Names of sciences that begin with "Astro".
Last edited Sun Nov 4, 2018, 07:57 PM - Edit history (1)
An educational song from "Sesame Street" goes like this:
"One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn’t belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?"
Here is a of things, one of which doesn't belong:
astrochemistry
astrodynamics
astrology
astrometry
astronautics
astronomy
astrophysics
Ironically enough, the thing that doesn't belong is the one most frequently abbreviated "astro". The other things in the list are respectable subjects one might study in a college or university. The one you are least likely to recognize (unless you have studied astronomy) is "astrometry". According to the dictionary on my computer, "astrometry" is "the measurement of the positions, motions, and magnitudes of stars".
What doesn't belong in the list is, of course, "astrology". Why doesn't it belong? For one thing, no reputable college would teach a course in it. It became disreputable during the 17th century and has remained so ever since.
What's wrong with astrology? Is it merely a scam? Is it a sign of stupidity? Is it a science that failed? Charles Day, who writes a regular column in the magazine Physics Today, had this to say in the October 2018 issue:
https://physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/PT.3.4032?af=R&fbclid=IwAR2Q7BbJtPzRuUAbW4XxIlPOvAeewAqUYrZPBQgzQrvey4L-SCy1sYv1IcY
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